Xi'an, China
Best known as the home of the Terracotta Warriors (a World Heritage Site with thousands of sculpted soldiers buried with China’s first Emperor to protect him in his afterlife), Xi’an is a major educational and high technology hub in the northwest of China. Now the capital of Shaanxi Province, Emperors ruled China from Xi’an for more than one thousand years through several of the country’s most important dynasties. As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, the people of Xi’an traded goods and ideas with travelers from diverse cultures across the globe.
The Northwestern Chinese American Association of Greater Washington (NCAAGW) has been the key partner in establishing Montgomery County’s third Sister City. In 2012, NCAAGW’s two honorary presidents – Mr. Nan Qiao and Ms. Sabrina Hsu accompanied Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Tom Street, County Director of Special Projects Lily Qi, and Ms. Shannon Yang on a trip to China that explored the potential interest of a Sister City with Xi’an. One year later, County Executive Leggett led a large delegation to Xi’an where he signed a Letter of Intent on September 20, 2013. The formal Sister City agreement with Xi’an was signed in 2014.
Between May 11 and 13, 2024, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Sister City’s relation between Montgomery County and Xi'an, a Montgomery County delegation led by County Executive Mark Elrich consisting of 11 county government officials and local community representatives, including NCAAGW’s two honorary presidents – Mr. Nan Qiao and Ms. Sabrina Hsu, NCAAGW board members Mr. Hao Feng & Qi Liu, visited Xi'an at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Xi'an municipal office.
Fast Facts
COUNTRY
China (population 1,412,000,000)
PROVINCE
Shaanxi Province
FOUNDED
c. 1100 BC
POPULATION
12,950,000 (urban)
AREA
319 square miles (urban)
3,854 square miles (sub-provincial city)
ELEVATION
1,329 feet
PRIMARY LANGUAGE
Chinese
PRIMARY RELIGIONS
Buddhism, Christian, Muslim, and Taoism
CURRENCY
Renminbi Yuan (CNY)
TIME ZONE
China Standard Time (CST) (UTC+8)
ECONOMY
Equipment manufacturing, tourism, technology, and software outsourcing
Former County Executive Ike Leggett and former Xi’an Mayor Dong Jun, after signing Letter of Intent in Xi’an on September 19, 2013.
After visiting Xi'an's high-tech enterprises and famous attractions, the delegation members, most of them who were all visiting Xi'an for the first time, had a very good impression of the ancient city. "Before coming to Xi'an, I thought that Xi'an was outstanding only in culture and tourism, but I didn't expect that Xi'an's industrial and private sector development was also very impressive. Montgomery County and Xi'an have many industrial fits. I hope to reach more cooperation with Xi'an in the future and promote our sister city relations to be more "flourishing"!" said Mr. Mark Elrich, the County Executive of Montgomery County.
NCAAGW, serving Chinese Americans with connections to China’s northwestern provinces, is the largest hometown based Chinese American Association in the Washington area. Since July 2013, NCAAGW has been facilitated ten days summer camp trips to Xi’an for local youths from Montgomery County and metro DC area. On August 12, 2014, under the leadership of former president Hui Li, NCAAGW hosted an event at the Rockville Memorial Library with County Executive Leggett to celebrate the formal signing of the Sister City agreement. NCAAGW is committed to promote cultural, educational, and economic exchanges between Montgomery County, USA and Xi’an, China.
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For more information about how you can get involved, please contact montgomerysistercities@gmail.com.
Montgomery County delegation led by County Executive Mark Elrich to Xi’an, China consisting resigned Agreement May 2024 at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Xi’an municipal office.